PROPERTY RETENTION INDEX OF THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES

摘要

The use of thermoplastic polymers, reinforced with a variety of man made products, including fibrous glass, Kevlar~*, polyester, and nylon fabrics, has been growing aggressively in recent years. Combining dissimilar polymer matrices as the impregnating skins allows for unusual combinations of functional properties. One major problem, unlike their sister thermosetting composites, is the lack of crosslinking, which ensures functional integrity, especially at elevated temperatures. This is offset, however, by enhanced impact toughness which most thermosetting composites cannot offer. The scope of this study was to investigate the property retention index (PRI) of a range of thermoplastic mat composites (TMC) and to evaluate the PRI for selected physical properties, including torsional modulus and flexural behavior. The role of the impregnating resin, the reinforcement type/physical form, and fabrication/assembly scheme shall be reported.